Movable partition wall

ABSTRACT

A movable partition wall for simplifying interior wiring work. The movable partition wall includes a structural frame body having front and rear sides and at least one panel mounting surface including recessed portions. A panel is removably attached to the panel mounting surface and forms wiring spaces and wiring holes within the wall. The wiring holes communicate with the wiring spaces so that electrical cords can be passed from one wiring space to another wiring space. A plurality of the wiring holes also communicate with an area outside of the structural frame body so that cords can be easily introduced into the wall.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a movable partition wall to be suitably usedin an office room and the like.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

In recent office rooms and the like, there is increasing need to store arapidly increasing number of cords, such as electric cords of electricoffice appliances and telephone wires, in order not to obstruct usualoffice work and to arrange them in harmony with the interior appearanceof the room. For this purpose, movable partition walls which have wiringspaces in the inside are being developed. A movable partition wall isusually placed near an individual desk to store cords in its inside, sothat it is possible to minimize the number of cords placed on the flooror wall.

Among known movable partition walls, for example as shown in FIG. 11,there is one having a wiring space 4 in the inside defined by astructural frame body 2 having side end surfaces 1a and panels 3 whichare removably attached to the front and rear panel mounting surfaces 2aof the structural frame body 2, with wiring holes 6 formed in the centerof the side frame components 21 which form the side end surfaces 1a ofthe structural frame body 2 so as to communicate the side end surfaces1a and the wiring space 4. In this known type, wiring holes 7 are formedin the center of a lower frame component 23 which forms the lower endsurface 1c of the structural frame body 2 so as to communicate the lowerend surface 1c and the wiring space 4, and wiring holes 8 are alsoformed in the center of a middle frame component 24 which ishorizontally provided in the wiring space 4 to connect the right andleft side frame components 21 and partition the wiring space 4 so as tocommunicate the upper and lower wiring spaces 4. In this type of movablepartition walls, it is possible to arrange cords 5 for proper wiring byremoving the panel 3 from the panel mounting surface 2a and putting thecords 5 in the wiring spaces 4 through the wiring holes 6, 7 and 8.

In the conventional type of movable partition wall, there is a problemthat wiring work is complicated. In particular, the cord 5 has to be putinto the wiring hole 6 from its tip in wiring work, and such work iscomplicated because the tip is usually connected to a connectingcomponent such as a plug which is wider than the diameter of the cord 5.And the diameter of the wiring hole 6 must not only be excessively largeto permit the connecting component to pass through, but also be furtherenlarged when several cords 5 are to be provided. Furthermore, sincewiring work requires the cord 5 to be once removed from the appliance towhich it is connected, it is not possible to keep connection of acommunication cord and the like which must always keep connection. Thesame is true with the wiring holes 7 and 8.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the above problems, in this invention, a recessedportion is formed in a panel mounting surface of a structural framebody, and a wiring hole is formed by a panel removably attached to thepanel mounting surface and the recessed portion. To put a cord in awiring space formed in the inside, the panel is removed from the panelmounting surface to put the cord into the recessed portion in the panelmounting surface, after which the panel is attached to the panelmounting surface. Therefore, the invention can make wiring work easy andthe size of the wiring hole suitable for the dimension of the cord.

The movable partition wall of the invention is provided with astructural frame body having a panel mounting surface formed only at thefront or at both the front and rear sides thereof, a panel attachedremovably to the panel mounting surface of the structural frame body, awiring space formed in its inside, a recessed portion formed in thepanel mounting surface, and a wiring hole formed by the recessed portionand the panel for communication between the wiring space and the outsideof the structural frame body.

For formation of such a wiring hole in a side end surface of the movablepartition wall, a recessed portion may be formed in the panel mountingsurface of a side frame component which forms a side end surface of thestructural frame body, so that the recessed portion may form a wiringhole which communicates the side end surface and the wiring space.

For formation of such a wiring hole in an upper end surface of themovable partition wall, a recessed portion may be formed in the panelmounting surface of an upper frame component which forms the upper endsurface of the structural frame body, so that the recessed portion mayform a wiring hole which communicates the upper end surface and thewiring space.

For formation of such a wiring hole in a lower end surface of themovable partition wall, a recessed portion may be formed in the panelmounting surface of a lower frame component which forms a lower endsurface of the structural frame body, so that the recessed portion mayform a wiring hole which communicates the lower end surface and thewiring space.

For communication between each of the partitioned wiring spaces and theothers, it is advantageous that a recessed portion is formed in thepanel mounting surface of a middle frame component arranged horizontallyto connect the right and left side frame components and to partition thewiring space, so that the recessed portion forms a wiring hole whichcommunicates the wiring spaces above and below the middle framecomponent.

For prevention of damage to the cords by friction of the cords with asurface of the recessed portion or other causes, it is advantageous thatthe surface of the recessed portion is covered by a cap, so that thewiring hole is formed by the cap and the panel.

Furthermore, for keeping the cords in the wiring hole before mountingthe panel to the panel mounting surface, it is preferable that a coveris removably fixed to the cap so that the cover and the panel mountingsurface are approximately at the same plane, so that the wiring hole isformed between the cover and the cap.

By the above-mentioned arrangement of the invention, effects describedbelow are expected:

Since the wiring hole is formed by the recessed portion formed in thepanel mounting surface and the panel, it is not necessary to put thecord from its tip into the wiring hole so that a variety of cords can beeasily placed through the wiring hole, and it is possible to keepconnection of the cord to the appliance during the wiring work.Furthermore, because it is possible to do the wiring work regardless ofthe construction of a connecting component provided at the tip of thecord, the dimension of the wiring hole can be reduced to a minimum inaccordance with only the diameter of the cord.

Since the recessed portion is formed in each of the side, upper andlower frame components, the wiring hole can be easily formed in each ofthe side, upper and lower end surfaces of the movable partition wall byonly simple machining.

Since the recessed portion is formed in the middle frame component, thepartitioned wiring spaces can easily be made to communicate with eachother by only simple machining.

Since the surface of the recessed portion is covered by the cap, damageto the cords by friction of the cords with the surface of the recessedportion and other causes can be prevented without fail.

Furthermore, since the cover is removably fixed to the cap so that thecover and the panel mounting surface are approximately at the sameplane, and the wiring hole is formed between the cover and the cap, thewiring work becomes even easier because the cords can be kept in thewiring hole, and it is possible to make the effective dimension of thewiring hole larger by removing the cover from the cap if the cover isnot necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the invention inwhich the front panel is removed;

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the embodiment in which the front panelis removed;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which two panelsare arranged side by side, and part of the panels is removed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing an essential partof another embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a partly broken, perspective cross-sectional view showing thewiring hole in the side frame component of the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a partly broken, perspective cross-sectional view showing thewiring hole in the lower frame component of the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a partly broken, perspective cross-sectional view showing thewiring hole in the middle frame component of the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which two panelsare arranged side by side, and part of the panels is removed;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional device, in whichpart of the panels is removed.

BEST MODES OF EMBODYING THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 through 5,

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the movable partition wall 1 in theembodiment is formed with a wiring space 4 in the inside which isdefined by a structural frame body 2 which forms the side, upper andlower end surfaces 1a, 1b and 1c, and panels 3 which are removablyattached onto the front and rear panel mounting surfaces 2a of thestructural frame body 2, so that the wiring space 4 can store the cords5.

The structural frame body 2 is a rectangular one made of metal framecomponents, and composed of right and left side frame components 21which form the side end surfaces 1a of the structural frame body 2, andthe inner surfaces of which are fixed by means of welding and the liketo the right and left ends of an upper frame component 22 at the upperend, a lower frame component 23 at the lower end, and three middle framecomponents 24 at three places in the middle. The front and rear surfacesof the structural frame body 2 are at the same plane and formed with apanel mounting surface 2a.

The side frame components 21 comprise three pipes of the same lengthhaving a square cross section, the side pipes 212 securely sandwichingthe front and rear surfaces of the central pipe 211 so that the centralpipe 211 is located inwardly of the side pipes 212 at the side endsurface 1a of the frame. The upper frame component 22 forms the upperend surface 1b, and is composed of a central pipe 221, to the front andrear surfaces of which front and rear pipes 222 of a larger width thanthat of the central pipe 221 are fixed. The lower frame component 23forms the lower end surface 1c, and is composed of a central pipe 231,to the front and rear surfaces of which front and rear pipes 232 of alarger width than that of the central pipe 231 are fixed. The threemiddle frame components 24 are composed of a central pipe 241, to thefront and rear surfaces of which front and rear pipes 242 of a largerwidth than that of the central pipe 241 are fixed, and partition thewiring space 4 vertically.

Each of the front and rear panels 3 comprises three vertically arrangedrectangular plates, and is attached to the panel mounting surface 2a ofthe structural frame body 2. A lid plate 31 is attached to the upper endsurface 1b in order to arrange the appearance.

The wiring space 4 is a space closed by the side frame components 21,the upper frame component 22, the lower frame component 23, and themiddle frame components 24 which form the structural frame body 2, andthe panels 3. The wiring space 4 is opened by removing the panels 3.

In the movable partition wall 1 of the above arrangement of thisembodiment, recessed portions 21a are formed in two upper and lowerplaces of the right and left side frame components 21 at the front andrear panel mounting surfaces 2a, thereby to form wiring holes 6 whichmake the wiring space 4 communicate with the side end surfaces 1a. Therecessed portions 21a are formed by cutting a portion of the same shapeoff each of the front and rear side pipes 212 of the side framecomponents 21 at the same locations.

Recessed portions 23a are also formed in the lower frame component 23 atthe front and rear panel mounting surfaces 2a, thereby to form wiringholes 7 which make the wiring space 4 communicate with the lower endsurface 1c. The recessed portions 23a are formed in two right and leftplaces by cutting a portion of the same shape off each of the front andrear side pipes 232 of the lower frame component 23 and the continuousfront and rear surfaces of the central pipe 231 at the same locations.

Furthermore, recessed portions 24a are also formed in the lowest middleframe component 24 at the front and rear panel mounting surfaces 2a,thereby to form wiring holes 8 which communicate the upper and lowerwiring spaces 4 partitioned by the middle frame component 24 so that thewiring holes 6 in the side end surfaces 1a, the wiring space 4, and thewiring hole 7 in the lower end surface 1c communicate with each other.The recessed portions 24a are formed in two right and left places bycutting a portion of the same shape off each of the front and rear sidepipes 242 of the middle frame component 24 and the continuous front andrear surfaces of the central pipe 241 at the same locations.

In the movable partition wall 1 of this arrangement, to store the cords5 in the wiring space 4, as shown in FIG. 5, the panel 3 is removed fromthe panel mounting surface 2a to cause the cords 5 to extend through therecessed portions 21a, 23a and 24a of the panel mounting surface 2a, andthen the panel 3 is again mounted onto the panel mounting surface 2a.Therefore, it is not necessary to insert the cords 5 from their tip endsthrough the wiring holes 6, 7 and 8, so that it is possible to makewiring work easy and to do the wiring work regardless of the structureof the connecting components at the tip end of the cords 5. Since thedimension of the wiring holes 6, 7 and 8 may be determined withconsideration given only to the diameter of the cords 5, the dimensionof the wiring holes 6, 7 and 8 can be reduced to a minimum essential,and many cords 5 can be easily passed through the wiring holes 6, 7 and8. Furthermore, it is possible to keep connection of the cords 5 to theappliance during the wiring work.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, caps 61, 71 and 81 made of resinare fitted in the recessed portions 21a, 23a and 24a to cover them.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cap 61 is channel-shaped and attached to theupper, lower, and upright surfaces of the recessed portion 21a. The cap61 is elastically transformed into the recessed portion 21a. A cover 62is removably attached to the cap 61 so that the cover 62 and the panelmounting surface 2a are approximately at the same plane. The cover 62 islike a flat plate, and is formed near the lower end thereof with a pivot621 adapted to engage in a bearing 611 formed on the cap 61 so that thecover 62 may be turned on the pivot 621 as far as the tip of an engagingcraw 622 formed at the upper end of the cover 62 engages anot-illustrated projection of an engaging craw 612 formed on the cap 61.With the cap 61 and the cover 62 attached in the above manner, a spacebetween the cap 61 and the cover 62 functions as the wiring hole 6.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cap 71 is channel-shaped and attached to theright side, left side, and upright surfaces of the recessed portion 23a.The cap 71 is elastically transformed into the recessed portion 23a. Acover 72 is removably attached to the cap 71 so that the cover 72 andthe panel mounting surface 2a are approximately at the same plane. Thecover 72 is like a flat plate, and is formed near the side end thereofwith a pivot 721 adapted to engage in a bearing 711 formed on the cap 71so that the cover 72 may be turned on the pivot 721 as far as the tip ofan engaging craw 722 formed at the other side end of the cover 72engages a not-illustrated projection of an engaging craw 712 formed onthe cap 71. With the cap 71 and the cover 72 attached in the abovemanner, a space between the cap 71 and the cover 72 functions as thewiring hole 7.

As shown in FIG. 9, the cap 81 is channel-shaped and attached to theright side, left side, and upright surfaces of the recessed portion 24a.The cap 81 is elastically transformed into the recessed portion 24a. Acover 82 is removably attached to the cap 81 so that the cover 82 andthe panel mounting surface 2a are approximately at the same plane. Thecover 82 is like a flat plate, and is formed near the side end thereofwith a pivot 821 adapted to engage in a bearing 811 formed on the cap 81so that the cover 82 may be turned on the pivot 821 as far as the tip ofan engaging craw 822 formed at the other side end of the cover 82engages a not-illustrated projection of an engaging craw 812 formed onthe cap 81. With the cap 81 and the cover 82 attached in the abovemanner, a space between the cap 81 and the cover 82 functions as thewiring hole 8.

With this movable partition wall 1, wiring work to store the cords 5 inthe wiring space 4 shown in FIG. 10 is executed by removing the lowestpanel 3 from the panel mounting surface 2a, opening the covers 62, 72and 82 of the caps 61, 71 and 81 attached to the recessed portions 21a,23a and 24a in the panel mounting surface 2a, putting the cords 5 in thecorresponding caps 61, 71 and 81, closing the covers 62, 72 and 82 tokeep the cords 5 in the wiring holes 6, 7 and 8 formed between the caps61, 71 and 81 and the covers 62, 72 and 82, and then mounting the panel3 again to the panel mounting surface 2a. The covers 62, 72 and 82 maybe removed from the caps 61, 71 and 81 if the covers 62, 72 and 82 arenot necessary. In this case, the effective dimension of the wiring holes6, 7 and 8 becomes larger, so that it becomes possible to put more orwider cords 5 in the wiring holes 6, 7 and 8.

It is needless to say that arrangements of this invention are notrestricted to those described above. For example, it is possible to forma recessed portion in the upper end surface. The location, number, size,shape and the like of the wiring holes are arbitrary. For instance, itis possible to form the wiring hole only in one of the front and rearpanel mounting surfaces. It is also possible to form the panel mountingsurface only at the front side of the structural frame body. Theinvention does not eliminate the arrangements without the covers or withthe covers which are not removable from the caps but are only opened andclosed. Furthermore, various changes of the number, material, shape andthe like of the components are possible in the range which does notdeviate from the spirit of the invention.

POSSIBILITY OF USE IN INDUSTRY

As described above, the movable partition wall in accordance with theinvention is effectively used as a low partition wall in an office roomand the like.

I claim:
 1. A movable partition wall comprising a structural frame body having front and rear sides and a panel mounting surface formed at least the front side thereof; a panel removably attached to the panel mounting surface of the structural frame body; a wiring space formed within the movable partition wall; a recessed portion in the panel mounting surface; and a wiring hole formed by the recessed portion and the panel so that the wiring space is capable of communicating with an outside of the structural frame body.
 2. A movable partition wall as described in claim 1, wherein said recessed portion is formed in a side frame component which forms a side end surface of the structural frame body, said recessed portion of said side frame component forming the wiring hole so that said side end surface communicates with said wiring space.
 3. A movable partition wall as described in claim 1, wherein said recessed portion is formed in an upper frame component which forms an upper end surface of the structural frame body, said recessed portion of said upper frame component forming the wiring hole so that said upper end surface communicates with said wiring space.
 4. A movable partition wall as described in claim 1, wherein said recessed portion is formed in a lower frame component which forms a lower end surface of the structural frame body, said recessed portion of said lower frame component forming the wiring hole so that said lower end surface communicates with said wiring space.
 5. A movable partition wall as described in claim 1, wherein said recessed portion is formed in a middle frame component provided horizontally in the wiring space to connect right and left side frame components and to partition the wiring space, said recessed portion forming the wiring hole so that the wiring space above the middle frame component communicates with the wiring space below the middle frame component.
 6. A movable partition wall as described in claim 1, wherein a surface of said recessed portion is covered by a cap, and said wiring hole is formed by said cap and said panel.
 7. A movable partition wall as described in claim 6, wherein a cover is removably fixed to the cap so that the cover is kept at approximately the same plane as said panel mounting surface, thereby forming said wiring hole between the cover and the cap.
 8. A movable partition wall as described in claim 2, further comprising a recessed portion in the panel mounting surface of an upper frame component which forms an upper end surface of the structural frame body, said recessed portion of said upper frame component forming a wiring hole so that said upper end surface communicates with said wiring space.
 9. A movable partition wall as described in claim 2, further comprising a recessed portion in the panel mounting surface of a lower frame component which forms a lower end surface of the structural frame body, said recessed portion of said lower frame component forming a wiring hole so that said lower end surface communicates with said wiring space.
 10. A movable partition wall as described in claim 3, further comprising a recessed portion in the panel mounting surface of a lower frame component which forms a lower end surface of the structural frame body, said recessed portion of said lower frame component forming a wiring hole so that said lower end surface communicates with said wiring space.
 11. A movable partition wall as described in claim 2, further comprising a recessed portion in the panel mounting surface of a middle frame component provided horizontally in the wiring space to connect the side frame component with an additional side frame component and to partition the wiring space, said recessed portion of said middle frame component forming a wiring hole so that the wiring space above the middle frame component communicates with the wiring space below the middle frame component.
 12. A movable partition wall as described in claim 3, further comprising a recessed portion in the panel mounting surface of a middle frame component provided horizontally in the wiring space to connect right and left side frame components and to partition the wiring space, said recessed portion of said middle frame component forming a wiring hole so that the wiring space above the middle frame component communicates with the wiring space below the middle frame component.
 13. A movable partition wall as described in claim 4, further comprising a recessed portion in the panel mounting surface of a middle frame component provided horizontally in the wiring space to connect right and left side frame components and to partition the wiring space, said recessed portion of said middle frame component forming a wiring hole so that the wiring space above the middle frame component communicates with the wiring space below the middle frame component.
 14. A movable partition wall as described in claim 2, wherein a surface of said recessed portion is covered by a cap, and said wiring hole is formed by said cap and said panel.
 15. A movable partition wall as described in claim 3, wherein a surface of said recessed portion is covered by a cap, and said wiring hole is formed by said cap and said panel.
 16. A movable partition wall as described in claim 4, wherein a surface of said recessed portion is covered by a cap, and said wiring hole is formed by said cap and said panel.
 17. A movable partition wall as described in claim 5, wherein a surface of said recessed portion is covered by a cap, and said wiring hole is formed by said cap and said panel.
 18. A movable partition wall as described in claim 14, wherein a cover is removably fixed to the cap so that the cover is kept at approximately the same plane as said panel mounting surface, thereby forming said wiring hole between the cover and the cap.
 19. A movable partition wall as described in claim 15, wherein a cover is removably fixed to the cap so that the cover is kept at approximately the same plane as said panel mounting surface, thereby forming said wiring hole between the cover and the cap.
 20. A movable partition wall as described in claim 16, wherein a cover is removably fixed to the cap so that the cover is kept at approximately the same plane as said panel mounting surface, thereby forming said wiring hole between the cover and the cap.
 21. A movable partition wall as described in claim 1 wherein an additional panel mounting surface is formed at the rear side of the structural frame body. 